Apparatus for returning exhaust-steam to steam-boilers.



No. 677,866. yPa'ten'wd luly 9, l90l.

w. T. HARRIS. APPARATUS FOR RETURNING EXHAUST STEAM T0 STEAM BUILERS.

(Application leiNov. 30, 1900.)

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WILLIAM T. HARRIS, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

APPARATUS FOR RETURNING EXHAUST-STEAM TO STlEAM-BOILIERS.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,866, dated July 9,1901.

Application filed November 30, 1900. Serial No. 38,241. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. HARRIS, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jeerson and State ofKentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Returning Exhaust-Steam to Steam-Boilers,of which the following is aspecification.

In steam-engine plants as ordinarily designed the steam after passingthrough the engine exhausts and in most instances passes into the openair, with a consequent large waste of heat and power.

'It is the object of my present invention to return 'this exhaust-steamand its condensation to the boiler, where it may be again converted intolive steam, with the result that a much less expenditure of heat, andconsequently of fuel, is required than is necessary to produce steamdirectly from water, the eX- haust-steam and its condensation beingalready, as will be readily understood, at a very high temperature.

An apparatus embodying my said invention will be first fully describedand the novel features thereof then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying said invention; Fig. 2,a central sectional view thereof; Vand Fig. 3, a transverse sectionalView, on an enlarged scale, as seen when looking in the directionindicated by the arrows from the dotted line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. Y,

The main shell or bod yB of this apparatus is connected to that portionof any ordinary or desired steam-boiler which is above the water-line(preferably the steam-dome) by means of a steam-pipe 1, which leads to asteam-chamber 2 in said main shell or body. At the other end it isconnected to the boiler at or near the bottom, below the water-line, bymeans of a hot-water pipe 3. At this end it is also connected to acold-water supply,'as a tank or Well, by means of a cold-'water pipe 4,as in iirst starting the apparatus into operation it can better be donewith cold water, and a small amount of cold water is'also necessary toreplenish that lost by leakage, &c. The pipes 3 and 4 lead through awater-valve body 5 and a nipple 6 to a water-chamber 7 in the main shellor body B. The valve-body 5 is a double structure and contains both ahot-water valve 8 and a cold-water valve 9. Within this body, pointingtoward the nipple 6, is a curved nozzle 10, leading from the hotwatervalve. This constructioncontrols the direction of the flow of the waterwhich is forced through the nipple 6 and into the chamber 7, thearrangement being such that the flow when -both the valves S and 9 areopen is in the saine direction, so that neither interferes with orretards the other. I prefer also to provid'e a main water-valve 11, bywhich the flow of both the hot and cold water may be shut off at oncefrom the apparatus. This valve is so arranged as to substantially dividethe Water-chamber into two portionsthe main portion 7, into which theWater is first received, and a second portion or chamber 12, withinwhich is the steam-injector nozzle 13. Said nozzle is in line with thecombining-tube 14, through which the steam and Water are forced to thedelivery-nozzle 15, which in turn discharges into the exhaustvacuumnozzle 16, and this into the main discharge-pipe 17, leading backl tothe steamboiler. f

A vacuum-chamber 18, formed between an outer shell S and an innerrshellor wall w, surrounds the combiningtube 14. Connected to the shell ofthis vacuum-chamber is an overflow-chamber 19, having a nozzle 20. Asmall pipe 2l, having a valve 22, runs from the steam-chamber 2 andterminates in a curved ejector or exhausting nozzle 23 in the chamber19. The last-mentioned apparatus I have denominated 'a teasen Thepassage-Way in the combining-tube 14 communicates by means of radialperforations p with the exhaust-chamber 18, so that water may be drawninto said chamber from said tube through the vacuum-chamber valve 24,when, as is commonly the case, said valve is free to move and be seatedor unseated by pressure as it comes thereon. Said-valve, however, mayupon occasion be fastened shut by means of the valve-stem 25 and theexhaust-chamber thus closed and rendered inoperative. v

f The exhaust-steam enters the Vacuumchamber 26 in the casing C throughthe ex- IOO haust-steam pipe 27, in which is the valve 28,

. and is drawn thence by the force of the eX-A haust created by thepassage of steam and water through the delivery-nozzle 15 into theexhaust-vacuum nozzle 16 and thence by way of the pipe. 17 back to theboiler. A check-4 valve 29 (which is kept seated when the ap-v paratusis not in operation by a spring 30) prevents any backflow of water fromtheI boiler to the engine through the exhaust-n steam pipe.

A branch 31 from the hot-water pipe 3 may lead to the maindischarge-pipe 17, said branch having a suitable valve 32 andterminating in a curved nozzle n, arranged todischarge longitudinally ofsaid y pipe, as shown.

The operation of said apparatus is as fol-` lows: Assuming it to becompletely out of op` eration and the valves all closed, I prefer inputting-said apparatusinto use -to rst open. the cold-water valve 9. Ithen open the main water-valve 11. I then open the teaser-valve 22, bymeans of which a small jetof live steam is permitted topass from thelive-steam chamber 2te the exhausting-nozzle 23 in thef chamber 19andtheuce out through the -noz-` zle 20, creating a vacuum in thevacuum` chamber 18, which first raises the valve 24, and then draws asmall supply of water? from the chamber 12 through the combiningtube 14and out through the radial perfora=` `tions Vtherein yinto said chamber,whence Vit',`

willpresently overflow, showing that the wa @terfhas begun to movethrough the apparatus. v' :I then by meansof its handle h open the mainv'livefstearn valve 33, which permits the live;

. steam yto pass through the injector-,point 13j `into kthecombining-tube 14, .which drives thev water with great force throughsaid tube and through the delivery-nozzle 15, creating ai vacuum in thevacuum-nozzle 16 and in-the lspace behind it and unseating the valve29.j

At the same time I open the valve 28 in the exhaust-steam pipe 27, whichpermits ex haast-steam to be withdrawn with the water` and sent withgreat force through-the pipe 1'7` back into the boiler. At about thesame time I open the valve 8, admitting hot water1 directly from theboiler to the apparatus.,` I presently close or nearly close the cold,`water valve 9, for, as Will be readily under--v .-stood, yno very greatsupply of cold water isg Vnecessary fwhere my apparatus is used, it

being only necessary to start the operationl .and a steam-engine, of anapparatus for returning the exhaust-steam from said engine to saidboiler, consisting of an injector one portion whereof is connected tosaid steamboiler at a point above the water-line, and

another portion whereof is connected to said steam-boiler at a pointbelow the water-line therein and also connected to a cold-water supply,said injector being provided with a vacuumchamber into which theexhauststeam from the engine is discharged by means of a suitable pipe,said pipe, an exhaust-'vacuum nozzle connected with said chamber, andmeans for establishing a' circulation through the injector, whereby theWater and exhauststeam are driven back into the boiler4 thereby.

2. The combination, in an injector, 4of the main shell or bodycontaining a live-steam chamber and a water-chamber, suitableconnections with the boiler whereby the steam and the water are admittedto said chambers respectively, an injector-nozzle communicating-withsaid steam-chamber and positioned to discharge into a combining-tubewhich communicates with said water-chamber, said .Combining-tube havingradial perforations therein, a 4vacuum-chamber surrounding the shellcontaining said combining-tube vat the point whereit contains saidradialperforations, a valve in said shell, anoverlioW-chambercommunicating with said vacuum-chamber and having a suitableexhausting-nozzle therein, and a small pipe leading from said nozzle tothe live-steam chamber and containing a valve, vwhereby when said `valveis opened and the other valves of the apparatus are in proper positionwater will be drawn up into said Avacuum-chamber .by the force createdby ,the steam passing through said pipe and nozzle, substantially7 asset forth.

3. The combination, in an injector, of the main shell or body containingchambers for waterand steam, an injector-nozzle leading out of thesteam-chamber therein, a suitable valve therefor, a combining-tubeleading out of Athe water-chamber therein and arranged to-receivethedischarge from said injectornozzle, a delivery-nozzle forming aprolongation of said combining tube and passing through anexhaust-vacuum chamber,a checkvalve surrounding said delivery-nozzle andclosing the orifice leading from said exhaustvacuum chamber toward thedelivery-point against backow, an exhaust-vacuum nozzle leading from thespace containing the checkvalve, a pipe surrounding the mouth of thesame and leading thence back -to theboiler, and agpipe lleading from theengine to said exhaust-.vacuum chamber and adapted to conduct theexhaust-steam thereto.

4. The combination, with a steam-boiler ICO 'and a steam-engine, of aninjector containing a steam-chamber, a water-chamber, and avacuum-chamber, said steam-chamber being connected with the steam-boilerat a point above the water-line, said water-chamber being connected withthe steam-boiler at a point below the water-line, and saidVacuum-chamber being connected with the exhaust-pipe of thesteam-engine, a combining-tube arranged in said structure and leadingfrom the waterchamber through the vacuum-chamber, and an injector-nozzlearranged in line with said combining-tube and leading from the livesteamchamber, said several pipes and passages being provided with suitablevalves, whereby the exhaust-steam is delivered into and mingled with thewater and driven back into the boiler under the force of the dischargein said injector-nozzle.

5. The combination, with a steam-boiler and a steam-engine, of aninjector adapted to return the exhaust-steam and its products to theboiler, said injector containing a livesteam chamber, a water-chamber,and a vacuum-chamber, said live-steam chamber being connected to theboiler above the waterline, said vacuum-chamber being connected to thestea m-engine and adapted to receive the exhaust therefrom through asuitable pipe, and said water-chamber being connected both to thesteam-boiler below the water-line and also to a source of cold-watersupply, the hotwater supply terminating in a curved nozzle, 10, aroundwhich the cold water passes on its way to the cold-water chamber saidinjector being also provided with a combining-tube and delivery-nozzleextending from the waterchamber through the vacuum-chamber, anexhaust-vacuum nozzle surrounding the delivery-nozzle and leading fromthe vacuumchamber into which the exhaust-steam is conveyed,- a pipeadapted to receive the discharge from said exhaust-vacuum nozzle andwhich leads thence back to the boiler, and an injector-nozzle leadingfrom the live-'steam cham- -ber and arranged to discharge `into saidcombilling-tube, substantially as set forth.

(i. The combinatiomin an injector,ofa main body containing awater-chamber and leading from said live-steam chamber, a combining-tubein line therewith having radial perforations and leading through asurrounding shell and through a vacuum-chamber, with the latter of whichthe exhaust-steam pipe from the engine is connected, a primingvacuum-chamber surrounding said shell, a valveseat in said shell, aloosely-mounted valve thereon, and a teaser composed of a small pipe,valve, and nozzle, leading from the livesteam chamber, whereby water isdrawn through radial perforations in said combining-tube into saidpriming vacuum-chamber and the injector thus primed.

7. The combination, with a steam-boiler and a steam-engine, of aninjector whereby the exhaust-steam and its products are conveyed back tothe boiler from the engine, a connection between said injector and saidboiler at a point above the water-line, a second connection between saidinjector and said boiler at a point'below the water-line whereby hotwater 'is conveyed to said boiler through said injector, said connectionbeing provided with a branch coupled to the return-- pipe leading fromsaid injector back to the boiler at a point beyond the nozzle thereofwhereby a portion of said hot water is adapted to pass through theinjector and a part by way of said branch pipe into said return-pipebeyond `or ahead of said in j ector, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a steam-boiler and a steam-engine, of aninjector whereby the exhaust-steam and its products are conveyed back tothe boiler from the engine, a connection between said injector and saidboiler at a point above the water-line, a second connection between saidinjector and said boiler at a point below the water-line whereby hotwater is conveyed to saidboilerthrough said injector, said connectionbeing provided with a branch coupled to the return-pipe leading fromsaid injector back to the boiler.

at a point beyond the nozzle thereof said branch being coupled to saidpipe by means of a coupling containing a curved nozzle, n, whereby aportion of said hot water may be discharged into said return-pipe andunite with the contents thereof without retard-ing the iiow therein,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 24th day of November, A. D. 1900.

VILLIAM T. HARRIS. s]

" Vitnesses:

CHEs'rER BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALSH.

IOO

